Not Your Grandfather's Dentist (Three Ways to Make Sure Your Dental Appointment

Posted by studiocitydental on October 26th, 2016

You KNOW visiting the dentist is important. Everyone says it’s important. And surely you don’t want your teeth to rot away and fall out. 

So what’s keeping you from going to the dentist? 

What images does your mind conjure up when you think about going to a dentist? Is it sharp, scary tools wielded by cruel villains whose very purpose of existence is to make children miserable?

Is that really what it was like the last time you went to the dentist? 

Dentistry has come a long way, but unfortunately, the myth persists. 

It’s not the 1950’s. Any modern dentist's office should have modern comforts and amenities to make sure patients are much more comfortable. 

Most dentists these days go to great pains to make sure their patients are comfortable. Dentists in Studio City in particular tend to invest in the latest technology to make treatments painless and quick. 

So if you’re the type who hides your teeth when someone asks if you want to schedule a dental appointment, you can relax. There’s a way to make sure you have found a dentist who’ll treat you with all the care you deserve. 

There are some easy ways to ensure a new dentist is going to provide a comfortable visit: 

Check the website. 

Do they state specific ways they make patients comfortable? Most websites will have some general language about making you comfortable, but can your dentist give specifics? 

Check review sites like Yelp. 

Yelp and ZocDoc and other “real person review” sites are helpful to get some insights from people who’ve really visited that dentist. You’ll have to pay attention, though -- one review might not be indicative of the normal experience. People who have incorrect expectations sometimes have very bad experiences through no fault of the business they patronize, and if they’re really fired up, they can leave the longest review you ever read. 

So rather than trust just one, try to look for patterns. What is the overall star rating? What do the positive reviews say? Do the negative reviews have repeated elements, or are they completely unique instances? If there’s no regularity among positive OR negative reviews, then you probably won’t be able to get a good set of expectations put together. 

And that brings up the final check... 

Think about what, specifically, is keeping you from the dentist. 

Try to identify the exact root cause of your anxiety. You probably won’t need to see a therapist; just think back to literally the last time you went to the dentist. Then remind yourself that you’re an adult. (If you’re still more scared of making an appointment than you are of letting your teeth go unchecked, then maybe a therapist is called for.) 

When you’ve discovered what your real mental block is, call the receptionist and inquire how that office deals with that exact issue, and how they avoid discomfort for their patients in that area. Couldn’t be simpler.

Looking for a Dentist in Studio City? Call Studio City Dental Center to make an appointment.

About the Company: 

Dr. Kouyoumdjian received his Doctoral of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Southern California where he focused on esthetic dentistry. He has received several professional awards and regularly attends training sessions to stay up-to-date on the latest cosmetic dentistry. Several other services are also available, including teeth whitening and general dentistry. The whole staff atStudio City Dental Centerstrives to make patients comfortable and have a pleasant experience.